Truth or Dare
Updated: Jan 14, 2019
Sometimes telling the truth is hard. I totally get it. You have a client who has a messy house, zero taste, and tiny lighthouse figurines lining the living room built-ins (long story…--Which, by the way, I am totally fine with anyone's decor -lighthouses and all- as long as your house isn’t on the market. But....) How do you break the awful news that the home you desperately want to sell is Cluttered, Dirty, and completely lacking style?!?
Tell the Truth (with kindness, of course). Seriously. Your Sellers are paying you for your expertise. If you can’t, won’t, or don’t know what to say, Hire a Home Stager who will. I have gone into countless homes that have been on the market for months and the sellers just can’t see why they are NOT getting a.) showings or b.) offers. Here is the most wonderful, honest, trustworthy, helpful thing you can do. Tell. Them. The. Truth.
If their house is cluttered. Tell them.
If their house needs to have the “personal” items removed and “personality” infused. Tell them.
If that BRIGHT RED PAINT isn’t doing them any favors. Tell them.
If the smell of their cat litterbox is knee-buckling. Tell them.
Tell them buyers often relate cleanliness to maintenance.
Tell them buyers typically OPEN cabinets and appliances.
Once you tell them the truth- Give them ways to fix it. Here are a few ideas...
-“How about packing up all the “things”(i.e. Clutter) and get ready to move!” Pack up the EXCESS – Movies, Books, Linens, kitchen items, clothing, etc. BUYERS WANT STORAGE. Try to have at least 20-30% OPEN space in all your cabinets and closets.
- “Aren’t your children cute! However, we should take down those pictures of your kids, and all these drawings and crafts and keep them safe for your new home. All the photos we take of your home will be on the internet, we wouldn’t want pictures of your kids/family/great Aunt Ruth roaming the interwebs...” (or something like that, you get the idea) "Instead, let's use appropriately sized, tasteful art to infuse style."
- A clean house has nothing to do with style, but everything to do with a great first impression! Scrub, Scrub, Scrub! You need a CLEAN, sparkling house. From shining floors and gleaming windows to clean counters and scrubbed grout, every surface should sparkle. This is the easiest (well, maybe not easiest, but certainly the cheapest.) Don’t let your sellers skip this step. Make sure it gets done!
A great first impression is a MUST these days! The first 3 showings on a house are typically your most EAGER buyers. Let's make those showings count (and make your job easier).
Tell your clients the Truth...I Dare you!